On the Korean PeninsulaThe Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula caused by today’s artillery attack by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the Yeongpyeong Island. The attack was one of the gravest incidents since the end of the Korean War.The Secretary-General condemns the attack and calls for immediate restraint. The Secretary-General regrets the loss of life and expresses sympathy to the victims and their families.The Secretary-General insists that any differences should be resolved by peaceful means and dialogue.The Secretary-General has conveyed his utmost concern to the President of the Security Council.

댓글을 달아 주세요

KOREA: Two South Korean marines were killed Tuesday when North Korea shelled a border island, the military said. Announcing the deaths, General Lee Hong-Ki also told a briefing that five marines were seriously hurt in the artillery barrage and 10 suffered minor injuries, while three civilians were hurt. (AFP)

The South Korean military went to "crisis status," and fighter planes were put on alert but did not take off. South Korean artillery units returned fire after the North's shells struck South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island at 2:34 p.m., said Mr. Kwon, adding that the North also fired numerous rounds into the Yellow Sea. News reports said dozens of houses were on fire, and TV footage showed large plumes of black smoke spiraling from the island. The official North Korean news agency said in a brief statement Tuesday night that the South had started the fight when it "recklessly fired into our sea area." (NYT)

The UN Security Council is to hold an emergency session after North Korea's deadly artillery strike Tuesday on a South Korean border island, a French diplomatic source said. "A Council emergency session is being organised. France is very much in favour," the source said after the strike which killed two people and set off global alarm. (AFP)

The White House on Tuesday condemned an artillery attack by North Korea on a South Korean island and demanded the action cease. (Reuters)

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular briefing Tuesday in Beijing that China had taken note of reports about an exchange of fire between South Korea and the DPRK, urging related sides to do things conducive to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. The spokesman also urged the parties concerned to keep calm and restraint, and to make joint efforts for the peace and stability on the peninsula. (Xinhua)

The news that North Korea has launched an artillery barrage against a South Korean island shows that last week's move to put its nuclear capability back on the world agenda was part of a deliberate strategy to escalate tension in the region. (FT comment)

The North Korean government told a team of visiting American experts last week that it would effectively dismantle one of its nuclear weapons programs if the United States again pledged that it had "no hostile intent" toward the government of Kim Jong Il, a member of the delegation said. (WP) A U.S. special envoy says talks among six nations to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs won't resume while the reclusive state works on a new uranium enrichment facility. (AP)

Pyongyang would like bilateral talks with Washington, with the goal of normalising relations. Yet this would be to give in to nuclear blackmail. The best way of dealing with the latest North Korean eruption would be to reconvene the Six-Party Talks, in particular because of the prominent role played in them by Beijing. (Telegraph, London, ed)

Whatever the intentions North Korea had in claiming a new uranium enrichment facility, the only thing that it should do is to return to the path toward denuclearization. Japan and other countries concerned need to bring North Korea back to the negotiation table. (Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, ed)